A U.S. judge Wednesday blocked controversial parts of an Arizona law aimed at curbing illegal immigration, one day before the law goes into effect. The law's opponents are applauding the ruling, while Arizona governor Jan Brewer, who supports the law, calls it a bump in the road.

Judge Susan Bolton issued the temporary injunction against provisions of the law that would have required police to check the immigration status of people they suspect are in the country illegally when they arrest or stop those people while enforcing other laws. The judge also delayed a provision that would have required immigrants to carry documents at all times, and another that would have prevented illegal immigrants from soliciting work in public places. She blocked a fourth provision that would have allowed warrant-less arrests of suspected illegal immigrants. The judge said the temporary injunction will allow the disputed issues to be decided in court

Arizona governor Jan Brewer said she will consult lawyers on a possible appeal.

"We are going to continue to request that we get heard on this and that the citizens of Arizona are protected," said Jan Brewer. "I think that it's important to remind everybody that today they absolutely, the federal government got relief from the courts to not do their job."

Brewer signed the law in April, saying the bill was a response to a lack of enforcement of U.S. immigration law by federal officials. She says that U.S. government inaction has led to increased crime and added costs for the state for the incarceration of criminals, health care and education.

President Barack Obama had called the law "misguided." Other opponents had said it would lead to racial profiling by police.

Judge Bolton left in place a provision of the law that prevents the unauthorized hiring of illegal immigrants, and another that allows Arizona to block cities from becoming so-called sanctuaries in defiance of federal immigration law.

Her ruling came in response to a court challenge by the U.S. Department of Justice, which says that immigration is a federal responsibility and that the Arizona law has become an issue in foreign relations with countries such as Mexico.

Private groups have also sued to block the law, including the American Civil Liberties Union, saying it unfairly discriminates against Hispanic citizens. The judge did not address that issue, but said requiring police to check the immigration status of every person they arrest would place an unfair burden on lawful immigrants.

The immigrant rights group Border Action Network applauded the ruling for removing what the group calls the law's most discriminatory provisions.

Most illegal migrants to the United States come from Mexico, and Arizona, as a border state, has been called a gateway. Many illegal immigrants, including Daniel Rodruiguez, arrive here as children.

"I didn't commit any moral wrong by being 6.5 and coming with my family here," said Daniel Rodruiguez.

Some law enforcement officials say they worry that enforcing immigration law would reduce the time they spend on local law enforcement. But Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County says federal laws cannot be ignored.

"It is a crime to be here illegally, and everybody should enforce that crime in the interior of the United States, including Arizona," said Joe Arpaio.

The remaining provisions of the Arizona law will take effect Thursday, and lawsuits against the law will proceed through the courts. Governor Jan Brewer calls Wednesday's ruling the beginning of a process.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, that his country could face further consequences to what he called its “already strained economy” if Moscow does not fully comply with a cease-fire in Ukraine. The two met, on Monday, on the sidelines of a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, where Kerry outlined human rights violations in Russian-annexed Crimea and eastern Ukraine. VOA State Department correspondent Pam Dockins reports from Geneva.

Video

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, that his country could face further consequences to what he called its “already strained economy” if Moscow does not fully comply with a cease-fire in Ukraine. The two met, on Monday, on the sidelines of a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, where Kerry outlined human rights violations in Russian-annexed Crimea and eastern Ukraine. VOA State Department correspondent Pam Dockins reports from Geneva.

Video

Diagnosing infections such as HIV requires expensive clinical tests, making the procedure too costly for many poor patients or those living in remote areas. But a new technology called lab-on-a-chip may make the tests more accessible to many. VOA’s George Putic reports.

Video

Afghan officials have expressed concern over reports of a crackdown on Afghan refugees in Pakistan following the Peshawar school attack in December. Reports of mass arrests and police harassment coupled with fear of an uncertain future are making life difficult for a population that fled its homeland to escape war. VOA’s Ayesha Tanzeem reports from Islamabad.

Video

Despite the ongoing ceasefire in Ukraine, soldiers in the city of Mariupol fear that pro-Russian separatists may be getting ready to attack. The separatists must take or encircle the city if they wish to gain land access to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia early last year. But Ukrainian forces, many of them volunteers, say they are determined to defend it. Patrick Wells reports from Mariupol.

Video

As low oil prices and Western sanctions force Russia's economy into recession, thousands of Moscow restaurants are expected to close their doors. Restaurant owners face rents tied to foreign currency, while rising food prices mean Russians are spending less when they dine out. One entrepreneur in Moscow has started a dinner kit delivery service for those who want to cook at home to save money but not skimp on quality. VOA's Daniel Schearf reports.

Video

The United States and Cuba say they have made progress in the second round of talks on restoring diplomatic relations more than 50 years after breaking off ties. Delegations from both sides met in Washington on Friday to work on opening embassies in Havana and Washington and iron out key obstacles to historic change. VOA’s Mary Alice Salinas reports from the State Department.

Video

One after another, presumptive Republican presidential contenders auditioned for conservative support this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference held outside Washington. The rhetoric was tough as a large field of potential candidates tried to woo conservative support with red-meat attacks on President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress. VOA Political Columnist Jim Malone takes a look.

Video

New Yorkers take pride in setting world trends — in fashion, the arts and fine dining. The city’s famous biannual Restaurant Week plays a significant role in a booming tourism industry that sustains 359,000 jobs and generates $61 billion in yearly revenue. VOA's Ramon Taylor reports.

Video

Issues like the Keystone XL pipeline, fracking and instability in the Middle East are driving debate in the U.S. about making America energy independent. Recently, the American Energy Innovation Council urged Congress and the White House to make expanded energy research a priority. One beneficiary of increased energy spending would be the Brookhaven National Lab, where clean, renewable, efficient energy is the goal. VOA's Bernard Shusman reports.

Video

There has been a surge of interest in the American civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s, thanks in part to the Hollywood motion picture "Selma." Five decades later, communities in the South are embracing the dark chapters of their past with hopes of luring tourism dollars. VOA's Chris Simkins reports.

Video

With the end of summer in the Southern hemisphere, the Antarctic research season is over. Scientists from Northern Illinois University are back in their laboratory after a 3-month expedition on the Ross Ice Shelf, the world’s largest floating ice sheet. As VOA’s Rosanne Skirble reports, they hope to find clues to explain the dynamics of the rapidly melting ice and its impact on sea level rise.

Video

A Lao dam project on a section of the Mekong River is drawing opposition from local fishermen, international environmental groups and neighboring countries. VOA's Say Mony visited the region to investigate the concerns. Colin Lovett narrates.